Leading up to last November’s election, we were repeatedly reminded that the GOP is well practiced at inventing and exaggerating cases of voter “fraud” in order to gain a tactical advantage. They have used the same methods to push laws demanding multiple forms of ID from voters, to scrub voting rolls, and to place poll watchers in minority precincts, just to name three popular examples.
Now, legislators in Tallahassee are crying “fraud” in order to gain acceptance for their latest attempt at stifling democracy: restrictive rules on the gathering of signatures for petitions backing citizen initiatives.
Supporters say the measures are needed to stop cluttering the Constitution with unnecessary or costly initiatives.
But legislators have no qualms about their own amendments. The first question on the November 2006 ballot will be a legislator-driven proposal to extend term limits from eight years to 12.
Others could follow, including:
A plan to change the Constitution to scale back the voter-mandated class size amendment and add a $35,000 starting teacher salary.
Requiring an election before tax money is used for a professional sports team.
A provision barring local governments from increasing real estate taxes for low-income, elderly residents.
An amendment repealing a measure that would yank a doctor’s license after three charges of medical malpractice.
Lawmakers say their own amendments are more carefully analyzed for potential fiscal impact than the citizen initiatives.
……But opponents say the Legislature is trying to deprive citizens of the only available method for circumventing politicians who ignore the public will. Several successful citizen initiatives, such as a ban on smoking in public places, the cap on class sizes and a ban on commercial fishing nets, came only after the Legislature refused to approve similar measures.
“Florida voters are using the amendment process because it’s the only way for them to get their voices heard in Tallahassee,” said Ben Wilcox, executive director of Common Cause Florida. “It’s almost shameful that the Legislature is trying to take that away from them.”
Lawmakers could put two of their ideas on the 2006 general election ballot.
One would ask voters to require 60 percent approval for all constitutional amendments, including those proposed by the Legislature, instead of a simple majority. The other would limit citizen petitions to issues affecting basic rights, government structure or items already in the state Constitution.
But citizens groups are most outraged by the bill scheduled to be heard by the House today. It would make it a first-degree misdemeanor for someone to gather petitions without a prominent ID badge. Paying people for each signature collected also would result in a criminal charge.
The bill would require groups to turn in signatures to local elections supervisors every 30 days. Late signatures would be thrown out. Only Florida residents could collect signatures for a petition, excluding college students and seasonal residents.
Supporters say the bill, sponsored by Sen. JD Alexander, R-Winter Haven, and Rep. Dudley Goodlette, R-Naples, will cut down on election fraud by deterring out-of-state organizations from using paid petition gatherers.
……The measure has been approved by several committees in both chambers and is nearing the floor of the Senate.
But at a Senate Republican Caucus meeting last week, several senators worried that the public didn’t understand the proposed bill.
“They really believe we are taking away their right to amend,” said Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon.
They asked the majority leader’s office to launch a public relations campaign, including talking points for each Republican senator.
Uh, Nancy, despite any focus grouped talking points you might be able to come up with, you are taking away our right to amend. If you don’t want us to believe that, then don’t vote for the fucking bill that
“Save the Voters Voice,” a coalition opposing the changes, contends they would make it virtually impossible for grass roots citizens groups to participate in the initiative process.
“This legislation is a solution looking for a problem,” said Rich Templin, spokesman for the Florida AFL-CIO.